Methods and systems for selecting target vehicles for occupancy detection

Abstract

Methods and systems for selecting a target vehicle for occupancy detection utilizing vehicle identification information. The vehicle identification information (e.g., license plate information) can be obtained from a vehicle identification unit (e.g., ALPR) to identify a vehicle approaching a high occupancy measurement zone. The vehicle identification information from the vehicle identification unit can be transferred to a vehicle occupancy unit having a flash illuminator unit and an image-capturing unit. The flash illuminator unit and the image-capturing unit are not enabled if the vehicle's occupancy state has already been measured at a prior location based on the vehicle identification information. The vehicle occupancy detection unit and the vehicle identification unit work together in a coordinated fashion to reduce the number of times the flash illuminator unit needs to fire and extends the life of the illuminator unit, thus reducing the cost of maintenance.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for selection of a target vehicle for occupancy detection, the method comprising:
 obtaining first vehicle identification information from a vehicle identification unit wherein the first vehicle identification information identifies a first vehicle as the first vehicle approaches a high occupancy measurement zone; 
 determining that a first vehicle occupancy state has already been measured wherein the first vehicle occupancy state indicates how many people are in the first vehicle; 
 electing to not measure the first vehicle occupancy state within the high occupancy measurement zone at least in part because the first vehicle occupancy state has already been measured; 
 obtaining second vehicle identification information from the vehicle identification unit wherein the second vehicle identification information identifies a second vehicle as the second vehicle approaches the high occupancy measurement zone; 
 determining that a second vehicle occupancy state has not already been measured wherein the second vehicle occupancy state indicates how many people are in the second vehicle; 
 electing to measure the second vehicle occupancy state within the high occupancy measurement zone at least in part because the second vehicle occupancy state has not already been measured; 
 providing the second vehicle identification information to an occupancy detection unit having a flash illuminator unit and an image-capturing unit wherein the occupancy detection unit measures how many people are in a measured vehicle; and 
 determining, by the occupancy detection unit, the second vehicle occupancy state. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first vehicle identification information comprises first vehicle license plate data and wherein the second vehicle identification information comprises second vehicle license plate data. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle identification unit further comprises a radio-frequency identification transponder. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing an allowance by calculating a number of miles the first vehicle has been on the roadway; and 
 tracking a number of times the first vehicle has been missed utilizing the occupancy detection unit. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising factoring a more complex trip information into the election to not measure the first vehicle occupancy state and the election to measure the second vehicle occupancy state. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further comprising addressing a hardware limit wherein the illuminator life span is increased by electing to not measure the first vehicle occupancy state. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising recording an occluded vehicle and performing an additional occupancy detection to determine how many people are in the occluded vehicle at a later station by integrating occluded vehicle identification information wherein the vehicle identification unit obtains the occluded vehicle identification information. 
     
     
       8. A system for selection of a target vehicle for occupancy detection, the system comprising:
 a vehicle identification unit wherein the vehicle identification unit obtains first vehicle identification information that identifies a first vehicle as the first vehicle approaches a high occupancy measurement zone, and wherein the vehicle identification unit obtains second vehicle identification information that identifies a second vehicle as the second vehicle approaches the high occupancy measurement zone; 
 an occupancy detection unit having a flash illuminator unit and an image-capturing unit wherein the occupancy detection unit measures how many people are in a measured vehicle; 
 a first vehicle occupancy state wherein the first vehicle occupancy state indicates how many people are in the first vehicle, and wherein the first vehicle occupancy state is not measured by the occupancy detection unit because, at least in part, the first vehicle occupancy state is already known; and 
 a second vehicle occupancy state wherein the second occupancy state indicates how many people are in the second vehicle, wherein the second vehicle occupancy state is not known before the second vehicle enters the high occupancy measurement zone, and wherein the second vehicle occupancy state is measured by the occupancy detection unit because, at least in part, the second vehicle occupancy state is already known. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8  wherein the first vehicle identification information comprises first vehicle license plate data and wherein the second vehicle identification information comprises second vehicle license plate data. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8  wherein the vehicle identification unit comprises a radio-frequency identification transponder. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8  wherein:
 an allowance is provided by calculating a number of miles the first vehicle has been on the roadway; and 
 a number of times the vehicle has been missed is tracked utilizing the occupancy detection unit. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 8  wherein the first vehicle occupancy state is not measured by the occupancy detection unit because of, in part, more complex trip information, and wherein the second vehicle occupancy state is measured by the occupancy detection unit because of, in part, the more complex trip information. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8  further comprising a hardware limit wherein addressing the hardware limit increases the illuminator life span by electing to not measure the first vehicle occupancy state. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a memory for recording an occluded vehicle wherein the vehicle identification unit obtains occluded vehicle identification information; and 
 a processor for performing an additional occupancy detection at a later station by integrating the occluded vehicle identification information. 
 
     
     
       15. A system for selection of a target vehicle for occupancy detection, said system comprising:
 a processor; 
 a data bus coupled to said processor; and 
 a computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, said computer-usable medium being coupled to said data bus, said computer program code comprising instructions executable by said processor and configured for: 
 obtaining first vehicle identification information from a vehicle identification unit wherein the first vehicle identification information identifies a first vehicle as the first vehicle approaches a high occupancy measurement zone; 
 determining that a first vehicle occupancy state has already been measured wherein the first vehicle occupancy state indicates how many people are in the first vehicle; 
 electing to not measure the first vehicle occupancy state within the high occupancy measurement zone at least in part because the first vehicle occupancy state has already been measured; 
 obtaining second vehicle identification information from the vehicle identification unit wherein the second vehicle identification information identifies a second vehicle as the second vehicle approaches the high occupancy measurement zone; 
 determining that a second vehicle occupancy state has not already been measured wherein the second vehicle occupancy state indicates how many people are in the second vehicle; 
 electing to measure the second vehicle occupancy state within the high occupancy measurement zone at least in part because the second vehicle occupancy state has not already been measured; 
 providing the second vehicle identification information to an occupancy detection unit having a flash illuminator unit and an image-capturing unit wherein the occupancy detection unit measures how many people are in a measured vehicle; and 
 determining, by the occupancy detection unit, the second vehicle occupancy state. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15  wherein the first vehicle identification information comprises first vehicle license plate data, wherein the second vehicle identification information comprises second vehicle license plate data, and wherein the vehicle identification unit comprises a radio-frequency identification transponder. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15  wherein the instructions are further configured for:
 providing an allowance by calculating a number of miles the first vehicle has been on the roadway; and 
 tracking a number of times the first vehicle has been missed utilizing the occupancy detection unit. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15  wherein the instructions are further configured for factoring a more complex trip information into the election to not measure the first vehicle occupancy state and the election to measure the second vehicle occupancy state. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15  wherein the instructions are further configured for addressing a hardware limit wherein the illuminator life span is increased by electing to not measure the first vehicle occupancy state. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15  wherein the instructions are further configured for recording an occluded vehicle and performing an additional occupancy detection to determine how many people are in the occluded vehicle at a later station by integrating occluded vehicle identification information wherein the vehicle identification unit obtains the occluded vehicle identification information.